THE TALKING STATUES

Visit by foot of 3 hours: 9.00AM to 2.30PM

The tour in the centre of Rome covers various antique sculptures which, within the popular culture in Rome, turned into the spokesmen of politic protest.

A legend tells that, at night, irreverent satires in rimes were posted besides each statue and were addressed in an attempt to strike the misbehavior and arrogance of the politic and public personalities of the time.

This tradition is still ongoing

Marphurius (Marforio): eternally in love with the beautiful and provocative Madam Lucrezia

Madame Lucrezia: fascinating and tabby courtesan

Pasquin: the progenitor of this popular tradition

The "Pasquinades", salacious irreverent sonnets poking fun at public figures derive apparently from him.

Abbot Luigi: initially a Roman togaed; the middle age iconography shows him as a bishop dressed in a tunic, dissertator of politics as Pasquin.

The porter of Via Lata (Facchino di Via Lata): water seller and sagacious person of harsh and mordant language.